United States President Donald Trump has sparked attention after making comments about Cuba during a public appearance in Florida, suggesting in a light-hearted tone that the country could be “taken over very quickly”.
According to a report by Fox News, Mr Trump was speaking on Friday at the Forum Club in Palm Beach, Florida, where he was introducing guests and referencing former congressman Dan Meuser. During his remarks, he made an aside concerning Meuser’s background, jokingly stating that he was originally from “a place called Cuba”, before adding that the United States was “going to take it over very quickly”.
The President continued in a similar vein, remarking that Cuba “has some problems”, and suggesting a sequential approach to his priorities, saying that one task should be completed before moving on to another. He added that he prefers to “finish things”.
Later in his address, Mr Trump shifted to discussing United States military capability. He referred to the possibility of deploying a major American naval vessel, returning from Iran, towards Cuban waters. He mentioned that the vessel could be a large United States warship, possibly the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which might be positioned near the Cuban coastline.
The USS Abraham Lincoln is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, designed to project military power and support air operations at sea. It is among the largest warships in active service and has been deployed in various international operations.
Continuing his remarks in a joking manner, Mr Trump suggested that if such a ship were to position itself close enough to the Cuban shore—he cited a distance of approximately 100 yards—those on the island might respond by “thanking” the United States and “surrendering”.
The comments, delivered in a conversational and humorous tone, were made during an event primarily focused on introductions and broader political remarks. No official policy announcement regarding Cuba accompanied the statement, and the remarks were presented within the context of informal speech.
Summary of Key Remarks
| Topic | Detail of Statement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Cuba reference | Said it would be “taken over very quickly” | Made while introducing a guest |
| Assessment of Cuba | Described as having “some problems” | General remark during speech |
| Approach to tasks | Said he prefers to “finish things” | Explanation of working style |
| Military reference | Mentioned possible deployment of USS Abraham Lincoln near Cuba | Discussion of US military capability |
| Joking scenario | Suggested proximity of warship could lead to “surrender” | Delivered in humorous tone |
The remarks were reported by Fox News and formed part of a broader speech at the Forum Club in Palm Beach.